Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

SPRUCE HEAD - John Tripp, 83, passed away suddenly April 30, 2016 on a beautiful spring Criehaven day after a morning of lobstering with his daughter Janet. John cherished family, fishing and being on the water around Criehaven and it is fitting that he passed on in that way.

John was born August 6, 1932 to Harold and Esther Tripp. He grew up in Newton Massachusetts and attended Newton High School, where he excelled in football and track. After graduation, he attended the University of Maine, Orono for a year and majored in football. John then joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served during the Korean War. Upon completion of his service, he came to Midcoast Maine where he had summered and developed a love for the Maine coast. John began lobster fishing, raised a family and made many good friends.

John's life took a fortuitous turn when, after his first marriage had ended, he reached out to his High School sweetheart, Susan Wayman who had only recently become divorced herself and was living across the country with her four daughters in Palos Verdes, California. John and Sue courted briefly cross country, and were soon married. This love story would become the foundation of a wonderful life for John, Sue and their family for decades until his sudden passing last week.

A private and humble man, he was respected and loved by many and he will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his wife and family.

John was predeceased by his son Tom Tripp of Thomaston Maine. He is survived by his wife Susan Tripp; daughter Cindy Fyfe and her partner Fritz Johnson of Dillingham, Alaska and her daughter Rhiannon Wiegand and her husband Shane; son Jim Tripp his wife Pam of Spruce Head and their children, Kate Walsh and her husband Francis, Krista Tripp, John Tripp and his wife Mallary and Emily Tripp; daughter Janet Tripp Hocking and her husband Bryan of Thomaston; son Michael Tripp of South Thomaston, and his children Erin Baudanza and her husband Barry, Alexis Moores and her husband Mickey and his son Derrick Tripp; grandsons Michael Tripp of Waldoboro, Ben Tripp of Spruce Head; step-daughter Julie Haskell of Meriden, NH and her daughter Emma; step-daughter Jennifer Harms of Fort Collins, CO and her children Carly and Kyle, step-daughter Jill Lewis and her husband Todd of Walpole, MA and their children, Andy and Estee; step daughter Jane Bell and her husband Alan of Gorham, and their children, Connor and Austin. He is also survived by his adored great-grandchildren, Hannah, Tanner, Conner, Anna, Oliver, Clifford, Elsie, Ambrose, Everly, Lilly, Landen and Ophelia.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Friday, May 6, 2016 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Criehaven Emergency Services Fund, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, 245 Camden Street, Rockland, Maine 04841